The Washington Capitals couldn’t quite put it together for a Sunday matinee against the San Jose Sharks, but a late-game scramble salvaged the day for a dramatic overtime win.
After a scoreless first period, goals got busy in the second period. Nic Dowd finished off a sweet sequence, and Jakub Vrana roofed a pass from TJ Oshie — but the Sharks earned three goals and a hat trick to take a 3-2 lead after forty minutes.
The Caps had some good looks in the third period, but Logan Couture extended the Sharks league with an empty-netter, but then the Caps came back. Jakub Vrana got a wristshot goal for his second of the game, and Oshie tied it with 14 seconds remaining. In a wild overtime, Lars Eller won it.
Caps win!
- If someone scored a hat trick against the Caps, I won’t hear it and I won’t respond to it.
- The first period sure was a snooze. At least it was a 0-0 snooze.
- Nic Dowd became a dad this week, he got a 10-minute penalty for being hilarious, and now he scored a gorgeous goal to get the Caps moving. We will NOT be using the comments to debate whether or not he Is Daddy.
- Dowd and the fourth line continue to be magnificent. Scoring goals, drawing penalties, dominating play. I adore them all.
- Meanwhile, Evgeny Kuznetsov sure evgoofed up. Driving to the net with open ice late in the second period, Kuznetsov just needed to force Martin Jones to make a save. Instead, he fumbled a between-the-legs move, ending the attack in humiliation. (He otherwise played great, despite being a game-time decision due to illness.)
I'm furious at 92 there. It's Martin Jones. Just put the puck on net. Maybe jiggle your keys or say "boo!". He's basically helpless.
— Peter Hassett (@peterhassett) January 5, 2020
- Jakub Vrana‘s now at 18 goals on the season thanks to a gorgeous pass from TJ Oshie. They’re a great force together on offense, and it sure seems like they enjoy each other’s company.
And the bromance continues❤️ pic.twitter.com/lr55Snbrkt
— NBC Sports Capitals (@NBCSCapitals) January 5, 2020
- We got a pretty cool anthem from Caleb and Voices of Service before the game.
- Celebrating his 10th year as captain, Alex Ovechkin couldn’t get much going. His line was pretty well corralled by San Jose’s Hertl line.
- Nick Jensen was on the ice for all five goals in the second period. He screened Holtby to some extent on two of them. Busy time for the guy.
- The Caps now lead the league in delay-of-game penalties for puck over glass. Not ideal.
- Braden Holtby was magnificent in overtime.
Plum! #JoeBSuitOfTheNight pic.twitter.com/XVrgbA3cKa
— Peter Hassett (@peterhassett) January 5, 2020
What a comeback. That was a deeply imperfect game, and it would have stung in hindsight if not for that last minute.
See you on Tuesday, when the Caps will host the Senators.
